Plier type jar cover remover



Oct. 5, 1954 KRAG 2,690,687

PLIER TYPE JAR COVER REMOVER Filed Jan. 21, 1954 F 11 IF 15 Invemor':

Fro KKra I Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLIER TYPEJAR COVER REMOVER Franz K. Krag, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 21, 1954, Serial No. 405,390

This invention relates to improvements in jar cover removers, and thelike. Specifically, the invention relates to devices intended for readyremoval of the flange type covers from containers of that type in whichthe container is provided with an upwardly extending neck onto which theflange type cover is sealed, the cover flange extending down around theneck of the container a short distance to a location slightly above andseparated from an outwardly extending rib on the container. This rib isusually formed integrally with the container and provides a narrowoutwardly reaching flange against which a suitable tool may be placed.The slight space between the lower edge of the cover flange and theupper face of this rib thus constitutes an annular recess into which asuitable cover removing tool may be inserted during the cover removingoperation. My present invention relates to a convenient and veryeffective tool for insertion into and use in this annular recess duringthe cover removing operation.

In order to effect removal of the cover from the container neck it isnecessary to develop a separating force between the top face of thecontainer rib and the lower edge of the cover flange. The slightclearance between these parts, in the form of the annular recess beforereferred to, enables the insertion of the tool into location where thedesired separating force may be developed; but this space is small,generally of the order of to inch vertical dimension, at the time thecover is in sealed condition on the container, and prior to commencementof the removing operation.

It is necessary to develop a relatively large starting force to breakthe seal between the cover and the container neck, but it is evidentthat the available space within which such force may be developed issmall, so that the implement must be of design which may develop thedesired large starting force within such small space limitation. It isprime object of my invention to produce this result.

I have provided a tool in the form of a pair of jaws pivoted togetherinto a form of pliers V so that a high amount of force may be developedbetween the jaws by reason of the mechanical advantage due to the lengthof the pliers handles. In use the jaws are inserted into the annularspace aforesaid, but in the present device these jaws are so designedthat they will exert the intended force in a direction at rightangles ornormal to the plane in which the jaws and the handles move, so thatduring use for the cover removing operation the handles and the E jawslie substantially within a plane parallel to or nearly parallel to theplane which includes f the annular recess, being a plane normal to the 57 container axis.

That is, to produce the cover 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-3.46)

removing operation the two jaws are inserted into the annular recesswith the tool lying parallel to the plane of such recess, or nearlyparallel to such plane, and in orderto produce the cover starting andremoving movement the two handles are drawn together, thus exerting thecover starting and removing force in a direction at right angles to theplane which includes the tool handles. Such an operation is to beclearly distinguished from the force producing action developed by theconventional form of pliers.

In order to secure the desired development of force in the directionreferred to above, I have designed the jaws with cam surfaces orinclined planes, one on each jaw, such two surfaces facing away fromeach other, and one such surface being intended to engage the uppersurface of the container rib and the other cam surface being intended toengage the lower edge of the cover flange. The two jaws and their camsurfaces are also so related to each other that during the movement ofthe jaws for cover start and removal the two jaws travel over eachother, thus producing a combined spreading action of sufficient amountto not only start the cover, but to effectively remove it to the extentneces sary to enable ready manual removal from the container after thetool has been removed from the container location. These two jaws arealso so designed that during the above operations one face of one jawengages the upper face of the container rib, and the opposite face ofthe other jaw engages the lower edge of the cover flange, thus producinga direct force between the lower edge of the cover flange and the upperface of the container rib.

Due to the above explained interengagement between the two jaws, and dueto the fact that the jaw movement is in a direction parallel to theplane which includes the annular recess, it is possible to produce a jawmovement which is much greater than the actual amount of separatingmovement occuring between the lower edge of the cover flange and thecontainer rib. In fact, in one embodiment of my present invention I amable to obtain a jaw movement of substantially inch, with a coverremoving action of substantially inch, being a multiplication ofsubstantially six to one in the force which is developed during thisoperation. That is, it is possible to develop substantially six times asmuch cover removing force, due to the peculiar manner in which the forceis developed between the jaws in my improved form of tool, as could bedeveloped by use of a conventional pliers type of tool, when a specifiedforce is applied to the tool handles.

A further and very important advantage which flows from the presentimproved form of the pliers tool is as follows:

The tool is so designed and constructed that when the jaws are in theirfully opened condition (which is conveniently produced by a suitablespring), the two jaws are not yet in their overlapping condition. Thusthe thickness of metal which must be inserted into the available annularrecess opening at such time, is merely the thickness of one jaw, beingone thickness of the sheet metal of which the tool is made. As the twojaws are afterwards shifted with respect to each other for the startingand cover removing operation, the jaws commence to overlap each other,with a corresponding increase of space needed for their accommodation.Thus the spreading operation is produced; but still the space needed atthe commencement of the operation is only that space needed toaccommodate one thickness of sheet metal. Furthermore, I have providedtapered jaw thicknesses so that at the beginning of the operation thesingle thickness of metal to be inserted into the available annularspace is even less than the normal or usual metal thickness. Thus thewedging and camming operation is further increased and improved. It isthus evident that I have provided a tool which may be used for removingthe covers from containers, even in cases where the cover flange comesvery close to the top surface of the container rib, so that theavailable space for tool accommodation is very small, and less thanintended in such class of containers.

A spring is conveniently provided for urging the jaws into their openedposition, after the use of the tool has been completed.

It is a further object of the invention to form the jaws and handles ofthe tool from sheet metal by simple stamping and forming operations, andat low cost. It is a further object of the invention to provide a verysimple pivoted connection between the two jaws, and one which can bereadily completed by a simple riveting operation, produced on a punchpress or like tool.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detaileddescription of the same, which consists in the features of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows in side elevation the upper portion of a familiar andconventional form of container having applied thereto a flange typecover which may be conveniently removed by use of a tool embodying thefeatures of my present invention; and this figure shows the shallowannular recess into which the jaws are inserted to produce the neededengagement for cover removal;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the container and cover embodiment shownin Figure 1, and with a tool embodying the features of the presentinvention set into place to commence the cover starting and removingoperation, the tool jaws being inserted into the annular recess, but thejaws being still in their spread apart condition ready to commence theoperation;

Figure 3 shows an edge view corresponding to Figure 2, and it shows onlythe upper portion of the container; and this figure shows that when thejaws are inserted into the annular recess the plane of the tool (thatis, the plane of the handles) lies close to, but somewhat tilted withrespect to, the plane which includes the annular recess;

Figure 4 shows an end view looking towards the jaws of the tool in theirspread apart condition; and

Figure 5 shows a side elevation or edge view of the tool.

In the several figures the handles have been shown .cut ofi, and not oftheir full length, for purposes of convenience in illustration.

Referring first to Figure 1, the container there shown, by way ofillustration only, is of glass or other moulded material, and includesthe body portion It, from which the neck portion H extends upwardly fora short distance. The flanged cover 12 is set down onto this neckportion, such cover being provided with the conventional downwardlyextending flange [3. This flange securely grips the upper edge of theneck,andusually asuitable sealing lining or surfacing is provided on theinside surface of the cover and flange. Usually, also, a gasket ofrubber or neoprene or like material is placed around the inside face ofthe flange, so that when the cover is drawn or clamped inwardly slightlytowards the neck a permanent and gas tight seal is provided between theneck and flange. Due to the effective seal thus produced, as well as thepartial vacuum usually developed within the container when cool, theforce needed to start the cover for removal is considerable, as is wellknown.

The conventional type of container intended for seal by such covers isalso provided with the outwardly extendingrib I4 at such a location thatwhen the cover has been sealed to the container there is left arelatively small annular recess 15 between the upper face of such riband the lower edge is of the cover flange. It is desired to insert thecover starting and removing tool into this recess. Having made suchinsertion it is desired to exert a reaction force between the rib andthe flange sufficient to produce the intended results.

The present tool includes the two companion jaw and handle elements I?and I8, pivoted together at the point l9. In the present embodimentthese two elements i1 and I8 are identical in form, so that they canboth be made by the same set of dies or forming elements. Each unitincludes the jaw element 2i) and the handle element 2 I. The twoelements I1 and [8 are formed with ofisets 22 adjacent to the locationof the pivotal point, these offsets being of amount equal tosubstantially one-half the thickness of the sheet metal used inproducing the units. Thus the two handles may be brought into the sameplane, but the two jaws will occupy adjacent planes so that they mayoverlap each other during the cover starting and removing operations.The handles are provided, close to the pivotal location, with inwardlyreaching lugs 23 which receive the ends of the compression spring 24 bywhich the units are urged apart into the unoperated position shown inFigure 2. Examination of Figures 2, 3, 4 and '5 will show that the bodyportions of the jaws lie parallel to the corresponding handles, althoughslightly separated from the handle planes, due to the offsets alreadyreferred to. Thus, during the closing movement against the force of thespring, said jaw body portions may slide or ride readily over thecorresponding elements of the other units.

Examination of Figures 4 and 5,. in particular, will show that the endportions of the jaws are twisted from the planes of the body portions ofthe jaws, through angles of substantially fifteen degrees. These jaw endportions are designated 25. Figure 4 is a view looking directly at theedges of the parts, and looking along the plane which includes the jawsand handles,

so that the end portions of the jaws appear twisted upwardly anddownwardly in that figure; whereas Figure 5, which is an end view of thejaws and their twisted portions, is drawn with the plane of such twistedportions parallel to the base of the sheet, so that the handles and thebody portions of the jaws are, in that figure, shown as lying within aplane substantially fifteen degrees to the horizontal.

In Figure 2 the twisted end portions of the jaws are shown as insertedinto the annular recess to the extent that the corners 25 of the jawscome into engagement with the surface of the container neck I I, thejaws and handles being in their open or separated condition as urged bythe spring. Under these conditions it is seen (from Figure 2) that onlythe inner corner portions of the twisted jaw portions have been receivedinto the recess, such effect being due to the retreating curvature ofthe container neck and the approaching curvatures of the ends of thejaws. Under these conditions the bodies of the jaws, and the handles,must lie within a plane which is non-normal to the containers axis, bysubstantially the amount of fifteen degrees, being the amount of twistof the jaw ends. This fact is most readily apparent from examination ofFigure 3. In Figure 5 the jaw ends, there shown, are in substantiallythe position which they occupy in setting the device into position foroperation.

Having made insert of the corner portions of the jaw twisted ends intothe recess, the lower face of the twisted end 25 will bear against thetop face of the rib l4, and the upper face of the twisted end 25 willbear against the lower edge of the cover flange. As the handles of thedevice are now drawn towards each other, thus closing the jaws towardseach other, it will be evident that the twisted end 25 will have to rideover the twisted end 25 and contrarily, the twisted end 25 will have toride under the twisted end 25 During this operation the amount by whichthe top surface of the end 25 and the bottom surface of the end 25 willbe separated will increase as the jaw closing operation continues, thusexerting a corresponding increase of separation between the lower edgeof the cover flange and the top surface of the rib l4.

Due to the fact that the body portions of the two jaws lie in facialengagement with each other it is seen that the opposing forces thusdeveloped between the top face of the twisted portion 25 and the bottomface of the twisted portion 25* are properly brought together, so thatthe desired separating action is developed to start and remove the coverfrom the container neck. It is only necessary to so design the partsthat the needed amount of separating movement will be produced to ensurethe desired amount of separating movement between the parts.

It is to be again noted that during the foregoing operation the handleswill be lying within a plane substantially fifteen degrees from theplane which includes the annular recess. Therefore the handles and partswill occupy substantially the relative positions shown in Figure 3. Bydesigning the parts so that the tilt is in the direction shown in thatfigure, that is, so that the upper faces of the parts are made visible,it will be found most convenient to grasp the handles in the right hand,and without need of twisting that hand into an uncomfortable positionduring the clamping operation.

Examination of Figures 4 and 5, also shows that the end edges of the twotwisted portions of the jaws are of bevelled thickness, being thinner attheir inner or proximate portions than at their most removed from eachother portions. This bevelling will further reduce the needed size ofthe annular recess into which the end portions of the tool may beinitially inserted, so that the tool may be used with containers havingvery thin or restricted annular opening sizes.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a utensil for the removal of coversfrom containers and the like, comprising in combination a pair of sheetmetal elements in crossing relationship to each other and insubstantially planar facial contact with each other at the location ofsuch crossing relationship, a pivotal connection between said elementsat the location of said crossing, the element portions of both elementsat one side of such pivotal connection comprising companion jaws and theelement portions of both elements at the other side of such pivotalconnection comprising companion handles to be grasped in the hand of auser, spring means between the elements and urging the elements in adirection to separate the handles from each other and to separate thejaws from each other, each jaw being broad in the direction normal tothe pivotal axis, and the outer end corner portions of the jaws beingwarped from the plane of the pivotal crossing body portions of the jawsto present cam surfaces at the ends of the jaws, the cam surfaces of thetwo jaws facing outwardly away from each other, said warped portionsbeing of progressively greater warp measured outwardly from the jawportions which are proximate to each other, whereby the cam surfaces areprogressively farther from the plane of facial contact between the jaws,whereby when the elements are swung on the pivotal connection againsuthe urging of the spring to bring the warped cam portions intooverlapping relationship the distance between the cam surfaces measuredin a direction parallel to the pivotal axis increases as the overlappingor the warped jaw portions increases.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein the amount of warp of theend portions of the jaws is substantially fifteen degrees measured fromthe plane of the pivotal crossing body portions.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein the end portions of thejaws are of tapered thickness, with increases of thickness of each jawfrom its portion proximate to the other jaw towards its portion moreremoved from such opposite jaw.

4. An article as defined in claim 2, wherein the end portions of thejaws are of tapered thickness, with increases of thickness of each jawfrom its portion proximate to the other jaw towards its portion moreremoved from such opposite jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,290,846 Smith Jan. 7, 1919 2,059,736 Manarik Nov. 3, 19362,483,456 Campos Oct. 4, 1949 2,596,719 Pankonin May 13, 1952 2,680,294Shoffner June 8, 1954

